Aro was not a warrior clan. Aro were traders and priests of Ibini Ukpabi.
Afigbo (1981) states clearly: The Aro of Cross River Igboland, with the help of Ohafia, Abam and Edda soldiers warred against Igbo and non-Igbo communities that supposedly hindered their slaving and trading activities.
*How it worked:*
Aro oracle condemns village: "You have offended Long Juju". Then Aro sends message to Elu Ohafia: "We have job for 200 men." Ohafia-Abam go, burn village, bring captives to Aro, Aro sells to coast. Payment: guns, cloth, women.
*Specific wars Aro used Ohafia against Obolo:*
- To break Obolo blockade of Imo River 1720s.
- To punish Efik towns that refused Aro oracle.
*2. BONNY (IBANI) — THE FIRST COASTAL CLIENT — 1720-1869*
The Andoni/Obolo before the colonial era had commercial contacts with European traders and with other neighbouring Ijaw clans, such as the Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari, Nkoro.
Bonny initially fought Obolo with Obolo, then hired Abam to defeat Obolo.
Dike (1956) records: The incursion of Obolo speakers... and consequent wars, particularly between the Ibani people and some Andoni communities.
Bonny's entire House system was built on Abam. King Perekule (Pepple I) early 1700s started hiring Abam. By 1869, Oko Jumbo and Jaja commanded 18 war canoes each, all crewed by Ohafia-Abam.
Bonny chiefs: Annie Pepple House, Manilla Pepple House, Oko Jumbo House, Tolofari House — all had Abam war captains.
*3. KALABARI — 1780-1880*
Amachree I, who died around 1800, was the founder of the dynasty that bears his name. Tradition says he was an Igbo man and a great war strategist — Abam general hired by Kalabari to fight Okirika and Bonny.
Kalabari hired Abam to:
- Fight Okirika over Elem Kalabari fishing grounds.
- Fight Bonny over palm oil markets at Ifoko.
By 1860s, Kalabari fielded 40 war canoes, each with Abam musketeers.
*4. OKIRIKA — 1780-1880*
Okirika is composite: Kalabari (Over 40%) Etche (Over 20%) Arochukwu/Abam (Over 15%). King Ogan, Amanyanabo of Okrika Clan installed 25 April 1964, descends from Abam war title _Ogan_.
Okirika hired Abam to fight Kalabari in 1865: By December 1865 the Okrika had started ambushing Kalabari trading canoes, and Bonny was threatening to join in — ambush is Abam specialty, not Ijo.
*5. NEMBE-BRASS (Southeast Ijo) — 1800-1890*
Nembe hired Aro and Abam as oracle and fighters.
Virtually everything of great traditional importance done in Nembe is done only after inquisition from Arochukwu. Nembe revere python — Aro trade mark.
In July 1863, the feud with the Nembe people of Brass flared up, with the Nembe the decisive victors — Nembe victory over Bonny and Kalabari alliance was with Aro-Abam mercenaries and long guns.
*6. JAJA OF OPOBO — THE LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER — 1869-1887*
When Jaja left Bonny in 1869, he left with 14 war canoes, 3,000 fighters — majority Ohafia-Abam. He recruited directly from Amaekpu and Elu, not via Aro.
Jaja used Abam to:
- Fight Bonny 1869-1873 (Bonny-Opobo war).
- Fight Andoni and Ogoni to open Opobo Channel.
- Fight Ibeno and Efik 1881 war — deployed 50 war canoes.
Jaja's capital Opobo Town was built by Abam carpenters. His bodyguard were Ikperikpe dancers.
*7. OKO JUMBO OF BONNY — RIVAL EMPLOYER — 1869-1891*
Oko Jumbo, originally Igbo origin, after Jaja left became de facto ruler of Bonny because he owned most war canoes. His army was also Ohafia — from his own village. This is why Bonny civil war 1869-1873 was really Ohafia vs Ohafia — Jaja's Abam vs Oko Jumbo's Ohafia.
*8. OTHER CLIENTS — BEYOND IJO*
- *Ibibio and Efik (Eket, Ibeno, Oron, Uruan):* Hired Abam to fight each other over palm oil. Dike notes Eket and Ibeno wars.
- *Ngwa and Ndoki Igbo:* Hired Abam against each other over land.
- *Ogoni:* Hired Abam against Andoni and Bonny.
- *Edda:* Sister warriors — Edda fought alongside Ohafia-Abam as allies, not clients.
*TABLE OF CLIENTS — FOR PAPER*
Client Period Purpose Payment to Ohafia-Abam
**Arochukwu** 1650-1902 Enforce oracle, punish villages, open trade routes, break Obolo blockade Guns, powder, captives
**Bonny** 1720-1869 Defeat Andoni, control Imo River, fight Kalabari Chieftaincy, wives, oil share, land
**Kalabari** 1780-1880 Fight Okirika, fight Bonny Amachree dynasty, Buguma land
**Okirika** 1780-1880 Ambush Kalabari canoes Ogan dynasty
**Nembe-Brass** 1800-1890 Win 1863 war vs Bonny Aro oracle access, guns
**Jaja/Opobo** 1869-1887 Build new kingdom, 50 canoe wars Direct cash, 14 war canoes
**Oko Jumbo** 1869-1891 Rule Bonny House headship
*ONE SENTENCE THESIS FOR THIS CHAPTER:*
> Aro was the recruitment agency, Bonny was the first coastal client who hired Ohafia-Abam to defeat Obolo and control oil, Kalabari and Okirika hired them to fight each other, Nembe hired them to win 1863, and Jaja and Oko Jumbo turned private Abam armies into personal kingdoms.
*REFERENCES*
1. Afigbo, A.E. 1981. Aro war with help of Ohafia, Abam and Edda soldiers.
2. Dike, K.O. 1956. Ibani vs Andoni wars, incursion of Obolo speakers.
3. Jones, G.I. 1963. Trading States of Oil Rivers — Bonny, Kalabari, Okirika wars.
4. Alagoa, E.J. 1972. History of Niger Delta — Abam mercenary system.
5. Nairaland / Fatherland Gazette — Obolo frequently fought wars with Bonny and Ogoni.
6. Colonial Office CO 82/10, CO 82/23 — Nembe 1863 war, Okirika ambush 1865, Ibeno war 1881.
7. Abam Clan History — Abam pioneers of Ikpirikpi Ogu, gloried in war conquests, contracted across Igboland and beyond.
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